Digital coping strategies of young people living with cognitive disabilities: using emotion-focused and problem-focused coping in digital relationships

Abstract

Studies indicate that people living with cognitive disabilities face digital social challenges, i.e. challenges in digital interactions. However, few studies have focused on their coping strategies. To bridge this knowledge gap and facilitate constructive digital experiences with others, this study explores how young people living with cognitive disabilities cope with digital social challenges. The study used interviews, video-diaries and workshops with 25 young individuals (aged 14–27) living with cognitive disabilities. The data analysis revealed three main digital social challenges experienced by the study participants: harassment, exclusion and disturbance. Participants manage digital social challenges using emotion-focused coping: acceptance, avoidance and caution, and problem-focused coping: confrontation, blocking, constructing digital relationships and cooperation. We argue that young people living with cognitive disabilities can cope with digital social challenges if they are able to access problem-solving resources, social resources and social support from peers.

Point of Interest

• People living with cognitive disabilities are at risk of being victimised online because of their communication and perception challenges.

• Our research explores how 25 young people living with cognitive disabilities manage challenges faced online using interviews, diaries and workshops.

• The research shows that our participants can manage challenges faced online by accepting or avoiding others’ inappropriate behaviour, by confronting them, or by creating meaningful relationships and collaborating with others online.

• Social and personal resources are important to solve and manage challenges online for our participants

• Our research is important because it can inspire peers to identify solutions and manage challenges faced online.

Keywords:

• Cognitive disability
• youth
• digital relationships
• digital challenges
• problem-focused coping
• emotion-focused coping

Acknowledgements

We thank our participants sincerely for their cooperation and insights into the study field, for spending time with us to show us their digital lives. We also thank the collaborating staff at the institutions for making the planning and conduction of data collection feasible and easy. Lastly, we thank our research team, Jacob Gorm Davidsen and Petko Karadechev for providing useful feedback and assist in the data collection process. Lastly, we thank the Velux Foundation for funding our research project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.